Bulls Fire Coach Fred Hoiberg

The Chicago Bulls are tanking, we all know this. But they’ve lost six in a row to fall to 5-19 on the season. Only Cleveland and Phoenix (4) have fewer wins. So on Monday morning, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Bulls relieved head coach Fred Hoiberg of his duties. They also found his replacement rather quickly. In-house, of course.

Hoiberg has been coaching the Bulls since the 2015-16 season. They never won more than 42 games in that time, though, and he probably should’ve been gone when they decided to trade Jimmy Butler. Instead, they kept him on to oversee the teardown and rebuild. However, there’s no reason as to why. Convenience, maybe? No idea. But Hoiberg has never been the answer.

Now that Lauri Markkanen is back from his injury, we expect the Bulls to play a little better. But a team that spent $20-million on one season of Jabari Parker isn’t trying to win many basketball games. Plus, he’s not even doing well in the one department he’s supposedly good at: scoring. Through 24 games, he’s averaging just 16.6 points per game. Chicago does have one enticing young player (who is actually healthy) in Zach LaVine, who is currently putting up 25 points per game. Markkanen being back makes two. When Kris Dunn returns from his knee injury, one that has limited him to just one appearance this season, might make three. Though, his injury history is very real and very worrisome.

It’s just that the Bulls need another coach. Hoiberg wasn’t ever going to be the answer. We bet Boylen isn’t either.

Up next, Chicago visits the Indiana Pacers. Will they be the first team to finish with 20 losses?